SITStahood!

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Medical Information Disclaimer

Howdy, friends! Just needed to let you know, any and all medical information on my blog is NOT intended to be a substitute for medical ADVICE!What I offer in my posts is my opinion and knowledge sharing, please contact your primary care provider for medical ADVICE.

Then, while we waited until the new moon for our clinical assistant to come get us, we got bored. And goofy. And, got a case of the giggles. And bounced on chairs and flicked switches and did all sorts of other incredibly mature stuff while waiting (did I mention it was for, like, half our lives?!) to be collected by this mythical "clinical assistant".

She was very much like a unicorn. NON-EXISTENT.

But, eventually, came she did. And then we were on our way.

My mama and I were treated to a mahvelous supper at Michael's by my grandma. Then, we tucked her in, kissed her good night and PAR-TAYED!! Well, really, I just had one Mike's and she had a couple of shots of Crown Royal on the rocks (see, told you she'd kick your butt in a drinking contest.) then we walked "home" (i.e the "Kahler Inn and Suites")...but not before catching a glimpse of this:

And laughing hysterically at the irony of a dude (ette?) with the name of "Suk" starting a Law Firm. "So, Joe...who's going to represent you in that double murder case?" "Oh, you know...SUK."

Dude woulda been better off opening a lollipop store. Or changing his name...perhaps to something like "Winsalot" or "Wekicktheirass".

But Suk? Poor guy.

Today brings more tests for my grandma...I'm pretty sure I've told you, but she suffers from MyastheniaGravis. (Click the link for a description of it.) Tomorrow she has an EMG, to which she says she'd rather be waterboarded.

Sounds like a pretty miserable test. :( I don't like it when my gram has to go through nasty stuff, but the doctor believes that there may be more than just MG going on.

Anyway...time to run. I've got doctors to listen to, wheelchairs to run with through the halls, AND, the possibility of picking up a new (to us) jogging stroller on the way home! Oh, and maybe going shopping.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Last Saturday, we decided to go to the afternoon mass at one of the churches in our area. We were seated near the back, shushing our kiddos and trying to get them to stay still (hence, my "sit near the front" belief) when a great, big man came to sit in front of us.

It was when he tapped the gentleman on the end on the shoulder, that I noticed that his arrival and choice of seating made him the third of three single men in a row. And suddenly, my mind was on hyper-speed. I was weaving tales and theories and wondering what sort of life stories these men held.

(via Google Image)

The first, was a slight man, with a head full of silver hair. Very well groomed, very reverent, and he held himself well. I imagined he lost his wife of many, many years, and that is why he was in church alone. His attire and the way he held himself, made me think he held a high position in life.

A doctor. A lawyer, maybe. And I imagined that he missed his wife, dearly.

The middle man, in my mind, was a hard worker, successful in his own right, but never wealthy. He, too, was well dressed, but in much more dated clothes...navy blue, polyester Levi's, a blue floral cowboy shirt, dark gray hair that was heavy with Brill cream. While this man was taller than the first, he was very thin. Too thin.

The kind of thin that made me imagine that he, too, had lost his wife. His best friend. His cook. Someone who took care of him, and when she left this world, he was lost as to how to care for himself.

The third man, the big guy who walked in and caught my attention was clearly a laborer. With hands that rivaled the Hulk's and were covered with deep gashes and cuts. His fingernails were dirty. Not dirty like he was unclean, but the kind of dirty one can only get from working with their hands day in and day out.

I imagined him to be a life-long bachelor. With no one to care for him, no one to nag him to clean under his nails, no one to remind him it was time to get a hair cut. I deduced that he was not wealthy. The least well off of the three, but likely, the hardest worker of all of them.

(Can you tell I didn't pay much attention to the mass that day?)

Just last night, I said to the Mr., "Did you notice those three men in front of us in church?", as they were still on my mind.

"Yeah," he said, "you know who the guy on the end was, right?"

"Er...no."

"He's one of the Johnson brothers. Do you have any idea how wealthy he is?!"

And with that 10 second conversation, he blew all of my theories, all of my stories, all of my assumptions right out of the water. It turns out this man was (IS!) a hard worker. A laborer.

A laborer with a lot of land that he just sold for some big bucks. A life-long bachelor (I was right on that one!) who, likely, has more money that the two gentlemen next to him, whom I was CERTAIN, were much more well off than the big guy.

Just goes to show you that you really CAN'T judge a book by it's cover. (And, also, that first impressions aren't always right.)

And that maybe next time, I should just pay more attention to the mass!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Yup, it was my mom's birthday today. I'm not sure that I've mentioned it before, but she's pretty awesome.

(So, that picture above? Something about it gives me the heebiejeebies...not the subject, but the coloring. The surroundings. Weird. And yet, I still post it. Weirder still.)

Come to think of it, I don't know anyone who doesn't think she's pretty awesome! She's hilarious, kind, fun to be around, a great grandma (not to be confused with "great-grandma", which she will NOT be for a long, long time!), a fabulous friend, and not someone you'd want to have a drinking contest with.

She'd kick your ass. ;)

We all (minus my big bro and his fam) got together for pizza at a local pizza joint and sat and chatted for 2 hours. Yes, it WAS bedtime when we left, but it was fabulous to spend the evening with them all.

Happy Birthday, mom...I pretty much think you're the best thing since sliced bread!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Well, I've gotta say...it sure feels good to be done with school shopping! I thoroughly enjoyed my days with each of my 4 school-aged kids, but wowza. That was hard on the pocket book...and the waistline.

But "Captain America" (I know, I know...I already said it was good before) was amazing. And coming from an "anti-Sci-Fi" girl like myself, that's really saying something! ('Course, it didn't hurt that Captain America was rather dashing in that patriotic suit...)

It's the Mr.'s 20th Class Reunion on Saturday. To say I'm looking forward to it would be...well, it would be the biggest ding, dang lie in the history of lying.

I ain't lookin' forward it.

So wish me luck.

Okay, onto Five Question Friday!

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky to appear on Friday morning (on a "new" post...a post with my answers to the questions...), and link up!

Questions for Friday, August 26th: (Special thanks to Liz, Sandy, @gasfamily, @trooppetrieand @MarandaLamping for their question suggestions! I would LOVE to link YOU in a future 5QF, so c'mon over to my community, or watch for my Thursday morning shout out on Twitter--if you go the Twitter route, remember to @5crookedhalos me and use hashtag #5QF! Thanks friends!)

1. Did you make any fun purchases this week?

2. If you could go to any musical concert, what would it be?

3. What is your least fav/ most fav house chore?

4. Would you prefer new appliances or clothes?

5. Miracle Whip or Mayo?

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1. Did you make any fun purchases this week?

Okay...you know that statement above? The one about school shopping?

Yeah, I did nothing but make fun purchases this week. 'Course, they're (kinda) necessary fun purchases, but I enjoy buying new clothes for my kids.

WAIT!!! OH...WAIT!!

I did buy something fun. There's a little story behind it...

So, I have...well, ahem...you know...okay, so my upper half is slightly difficult to clothe with clothes one finds in stores. Often times, retailers don't carry my size because it's not terribly common, and those that do? Well, I need a loan to buy those bras.

Well, I was shopping with my mom one day when she mentioned that I'll probably want a "functional" swimming suit for my brother's wedding in Mexico. I actually found a "bra sized" tankini in MY size. But no matching bottoms in my size. And, the top was 66 bucks on sale.

Not my kinda deal.

I was in and out of Macy's several times over several weeks and nada. Still 66 bucks.

Then, on Dubya and Mom day, I spotted signs littered all over the swim suit section that read "$19.99"...and I thought to myself, "Self, no way. Not THE suit. You couldn't be that lucky."

I went to check it out and low and behold there it was. THE suit. The tankini (top) for $19.99. AND, to sweeten the deal? The bottoms had magically appeared in MY size, too. PLUS, I had a 20% off coupon.

It was like Jesus was talking right to me, saying..."DO IT." And, if Jesus tells you to do something, you best listen.

Oh my, I didn't even have to think about this one for one nano second.

The Zac Brown Band.

And, if I could put together my dream concert, The Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffett...at a tropical location.

With me in the front row.

3. What is your least fav/ most fav house chore?

Um..."most fav" house chore?

Pretty sure I don't have one. I hate them all. Yes, I know "hate" is a strong word...let me rephrase that...

I REALLY hate them.

But I guess, to play fair, I could pick one.

Folding towels. That'd be my fave.

Least fave?

Folding socks.

I loathe socks. No, no...scratch that. I HATE folding socks. I'm looking into a new way of sock sorting, cleaning, washing, replenishing...I'll let you know how it goes. (pour the gasoline on the pile of socks...step away...light a match...) ;)

4. Would you prefer new appliances or clothes?

Heavens to Betsy. (Who's Besty?) You know you're an old lady when you consider saying "appliances".

And, you know you're REALLY old when you would actually choose "appliances".

However, that comes with conditions. If I can get a house remodel to go with those appliances, then no question. I'd pick them.

If, on the other hand, you'd make me squeeze bright, shiny, fancy, new appliances into the grubby old space we have right now?

Totally goin' with the clothes, then. No contest.

5. Miracle Whip or Mayo?

Mayo is dead to me.

And Miracle Whip is the fruit of my existence.

The balm of my being. It completes me.

(Er...dramatic, much?)

Seriously. Guys. They even say it on TV..."A sandwich just isn't a sandwich without the tangy zip of Miracle Whip."

How can you deny that?

I can't.

On both slices of bread, please.

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Over 'n out, my friends! I hope you have a good weekend...remember, wish me luck for Saturday.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

When this posts, I will be deep within shopping bliss with my 9 (almost 10!!) year old! The last of my kids to take school shopping. Well, we still need the actual "supplies", but clothes/shoes/backpacks?

We're totally covered!

Most of y'all know the drill for Five Question Friday, but for those of you that don't this explanation's for you! Remember that this post (the one you're reading right now) is just the "sneak peek" at the questions...you're chance to get the questions so you can get your post all ready for tomorrow!

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky to appear on Friday morning (on a "new" post...a post with my answers to the questions...), and link up!

Questions for Friday, August 26th: (Special thanks to Liz, Sandy, @gasfamily, @trooppetrie and @MarandaLamping [no BlogFrog link] for their question suggestions! I would LOVE to link YOU in a future 5QF, so c'mon over to my community, or watch for my Thursday morning shout out on Twitter--if you go the Twitter route, remember to @5crookedhalos me and use hashtag #5QF! Thanks friends!)

They are, seriously, the most frustratingly hilarious creatures on this planet. Trying to pave their way in the world. Carve out a niche for themselves. Figure out just who they are.

In all of that, they will certainly drive their parents to the edge of sanity...and then back to normal again. And then right back out to the edge. And just as suddenly, right back into normalcy. It's a vicious cycle.

But, those moments of normalcy? That's when the fun happens. When you see the glimpse of the adult they are becoming. And that's the good stuff. It's the stuff that makes all the crazies worth it.

Last night was "Pal and Mom" day. The two of us went shopping, mano a mano, had supper and caught a movie...just like we've done every year for the last *sob* 11 years. (PS..."Captain America"? Fabulous!) I love hearing his quips, his thoughts on the world...on his life.

We laughed...a lot. But it was when he said, "Gosh. I've already lived through, like, 20 world endings..and I'm only 15!" that I laughed the hardest. Don't know what it was, but it sure struck me funny!

Today will complete our "Kid and Mom" days, when I have "Belle and Mom" day. Our day tends to be a bit longer, since she is definitely her mama's girl and LOVES to shop!

I really enjoy these one on one days with my kids. Gets spendy, yeah, but it's so nice having uninterrupted time with them...time to talk and find out the important stuff in their lives.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

A few weeks ago I was hell bent on getting this flubby old bod of mine into shape.

I started eating better and I even *gasp* started running. (Secret: I actually enjoyed it!)

Well, I've fallen off the bandwagon. BOO!! Unless you count those cartwheels I was turning out in right field during our softball game.

Yes, I am serious.

After back to back vacations (and, yes, I realize the whole "back to back vacation" thing doesn't garner a whole lot of sympathy...but have you seen my schedule?! THAT'S where I need the sympathy!) and life getting crazy, I'm pretty sure I'm back at square 1. Actually, prolly worse than that...more like Square -52.

I've decided to just play it easy until this maddness ends, then jump back on the bandwagon when I have only *sniffle* one *tear* baby *sob* left with me at home. Sensible eating, exercise when I can, but no gangbusters until school starts.

Someday...someday I'll have Gisele's bod. Minus the mile long longs, teeny hips, and lack of baby bump remnants. (Seriously...I've seen post-baby photos of her. Where's her left over fluff from making that adorable baby with Tom Brady?! Not fair.)

There is something about us....us moms...that stumps me. Makes me scratch my head a little a bit.

It's how some moms get defensive when someone tells them that their baby/child looks like their spouse. Why the chip on the shoulder? I just don't get it, after all, don't they think their husband is good looking?

I grin when people tell me that one of my kids looks like my husband...I think he's pretty dang hot, so it makes me think our kids will fare well in life with his good looks!

Oh, whoops. Er...I meant this:

Case in point...our child whom I think most resembles the Mr.:

Hambone. Spittin' image.

Dubya a close second.

It's hard for me to tell with Belle and Baby Girl, because their coloring is SO different from the Mr.'s, but I wouldn't mind one bit if they end up resembling my husband...I mean, have you seen his sisters?

Gorgeous.

So...what do you think it is that makes some mama's get their hackles up when they hear their kids look like their husband? 'Cuz me? I like it!

Mr. Wonderful

My hunka hunka burnin' love!! Mr. Wonderful is "Most Likely to be Voted Husband of the Year". Seriously...the guy's amazing. He has an amazing work ethic, treats me like a queen and cherishes his children. He knows how I like my coffee and rarely balks when I need some girl time. He is an amazing man...and I am one lucky woman to have him!

The Pal

Our oldest child, "The Pal" has turned out to be a pretty amazing young man. Currently in college...GAH, COLLEGE!!! (how did this happen?!), he is his littlest sister's hero and makes his mama proud.

The Belle

E-Dubya (or E.W.)

Our second son, this boy fiercely loves his mama, is tender hearted, has the most amazing infectious laugh, is a hard worker, and an even harder player!

Hambone

Our "baby boy", Hambone is goofy, sometimes aloof, entirely his own person, and a miniature copy of his dad. His one-liners leave us laughing non stop. Comedic relief...at it's cutest!

Baby Girl

Our babe, she is a force to be reckoned with! So unlike her brothers and sister, she is incredibly strong willed, independent, and stubborn. She loves to check the cows with daddy and loathes shopping with her mama. She will most likely be found with a dirty face and sticky hair...